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For fractional general counsel, juggling multiple clients from various industries can be daunting. Here, Elle Jones provides essential insights on how to find the right balance and successfully navigate the complexities of this diverse role.
Speaking on a recent episode of The Corporate Counsel Show, Elle Jones, director and principal of Essential Legal Solutions, discussed the balancing act of being a fractional GC and shared valuable strategies for navigating the diverse responsibilities that come with this multifaceted role.
In the same episode, she explored the increasing demand among businesses for fractional GCs and suggested that FY2025–26 could become a landmark year for this role. She also shared her personal journey of transitioning into this position.
As a fractional GC, Jones describes her role as one that enables her to engage with a diverse range of clients, providing legal counsel and guidance to businesses of varying sizes and across multiple industries.
Jones shared that this dynamic role often requires her to juggle “up to 20 different clients at the [same] time”, with the tasks she handles ranging from “negotiating a contract” to simply sending “emails to keep things ticking over that week”.
By providing legal advice and support to several businesses at once, Jones emphasised the importance of finding “that balance” when working with clients to be successful as a fractional GC.
Striking that balance with clients was initially a challenge for Jones, who said: “When I first started, one of my learnings was the fact that I probably did put all my eggs in one basket and was working with one client in particular.”
Navigating this challenge, Jones advised fellow fractional GCs to “spread out your time across various clients” rather than relying solely on a single client for business.
One critical strategy Jones has employed to navigate the complexities of managing her diverse client base and numerous roles is setting aside specific days for each client.
She shared that this approach helps her avoid “jumping around too much” and allows her to focus more on each client’s needs without confusion or mistakes.
“I never want to be in a position where I can’t service my clients, but if I’m able to say that these particular days are dedicated 100 per cent to this particular client, that really helps me keep my head,” she said.
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